Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia filed a note of protest to RF Foreign Ministry following the statement by Vice-Speaker of the RF State Duma Vladimir Zhirinovski that Moscow should recognize Nagorno-Karabakh independence.

Interfax reports referring to Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry press secretary Elkhan Polukhov that in his interview with Neatkarigas Rita Avize daily (Latvia), Zhirinovski called “to recognize Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenian armed forces”,

“The letter voices protest against similar calls by RF Vice-Speaker and indicates non-conformity of the statements by State Duma representatives to spirit and letter of relations between our states,” Polukhov said.

Earlier Zhirinovski told Latvian daily that if Nagorno-Karabakh declares independence, Russia must recognize the fact. “I am neither against Armenians nor Azerbaijanis. But they will never come to terms on Nagorno-Karabakh just as Georgian will never come to terms with Abkhazians, and Arabs with Jews. Never! Kurds and Turks will never come to terms!” Zhirinovski said. According to him, Russia has for 16 years been calling for the recognition of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transdniestria and Nagorno-Karabakh.

A.G.